Healing and Empowerment Actions for Recovery from Trauma
Project Overview
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has awarded $16.6 million to The Ohio State University College of Medicine to launch the HEART Trial. This 5-year multi-center study addresses a critical gap in orthopedic trauma care: the "invisible" mental and emotional scars that often go untreated.
The Challenge
Traditional recovery plans focus heavily on healing visible injuries—cuts and broken bones. However, anxiety, depression, and PTSD often accompany these physical traumas. Currently, there is no scalable standard of care that treats the whole patient.
“We're good at fixing what we can see... but often don't pay enough attention to the hurt feelings and worries that come with these injuries.”
Our Goal
The HEART Trial will compare two approaches for patients aged 18+ with moderate to severe orthopedic injuries:
- Standard Care: Focusing primarily on physical recovery.
- The HEART Approach: A comprehensive program prioritizing psychological and emotional health alongside physical recovery.
We will measure effectiveness based on patient anxiety, mental health, pain levels, and substance use over a 12-month period.
Participating Sites
Led by the LIFT Lab at Ohio State, this collaboration includes:
- Johns Hopkins University
- Vanderbilt University
- University of Maryland
- University of Colorado
- Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
- Hennepin County Medical Center
Stay Connected
For ongoing updates and insights, visit the HEART Trial Newsletter.